Fruits To Avoid In Diabetes

Fruits To Avoid In Diabetes

Fruit is fresh, sweet, and can be very healthy. Some fruits even contain various medicinal effects. 

Only certain pieces of fruit are less good for you. As a diabetic, it is better not to eat some types of fruit.

You will therefore learn in this article which fruits you should avoid in case of type 2 diabetes. You will also discover why these 13 fruits are in fact banned.

Avoid this fruit in type 2 diabetes

However, I'm not just going to call you the forbidden fruits without substantiation. 

I'll explain the 'why' question to you in great detail.

That way you can always check for yourself whether a type of fruit that we have not mentioned here is acceptable or not.

What makes fruit healthy and safe to eat in type 2 diabetes

Dietary fiber. 

That is the key ingredient to a healthier life, a reduction in the risk of (further development of) type 2 diabetes, and a less fluctuating blood sugar level.

To discover whether a type of fruit is safe to eat in case of type 2 diabetes, it must therefore meet the following two rules:

Choose products with a lot of fiber

  • The fruit is low in carbohydrates and fruit sugars
  • The fruit contains a relatively large amount of dietary fiber

I cannot emphasize it often enough. We eat too little fiber.

Dietary fiber

Fiber can be found in plant products. Unprocessed vegetable products that are. Think vegetables, nuts, legumes. And fruits.

Dietary fiber is an indigestible carbohydrate.  They ensure, among other things, a healthy intestinal flora, a feeling of satiety, and inhibit high blood sugar.

However, if you are a diabetic and must deal with high blood sugar levels, your body produces (a lot of) insulin. And your cells are insensitive to that hormone in type 2 diabetes so that the sugars are not processed properly.

This puts you at risk of developing hyperglycemia.

By eating a lot of fiber (and relatively sugar = & low carbohydrate ) you can suppress that risk. You are concerned with preventing or curing the disease.

The conclusion is, therefore:

The more fiber you get in a day, the better. 

Various fruits are relatively low in sugar and high in fiber. Think blackberries, raspberries, and avocados. It is, therefore, best to eat these with type 2 diabetes because they have little influence on your blood sugar level.

The fruits below represent the opposite of 'healthy fruit for diabetes'. The fruit from the list is exactly the fruit you want to avoid as much as possible (read: at all costs).

I can't forbid you anything. Nevertheless, the list below consists entirely of ' forbidden fruit for diabetics'.

Of course, you can choose which products you put in your shopping cart.

I hope next time you will reconsider whether you really want to put that carton of fruit juice, that jar of jam, or a bunch of ripe bananas on the counter. 

Read this Diabetes and high blood pressure

#1 Fruit juice

In the guise of:  then, we've already had the worst,  I'll start with the most unhealthy kind of 'fruit'.

Fruit juice.

This drink, which usually only consists of water, (fruit) sugars, added flavors, and (sometimes, with a bit of luck) vitamins, comes in many forms.

This is the number one forbidden fruit in type 2 diabetes.

Forbidden fruit for diabetics

  • Fruit juice
  • fruit drink
  • Multivitamin drink
  • Double drink
  • Smoothies (with fruit and/or vegetables) from the supermarket

But also the so-called Vitamin water, Taksi, apple juice, grape juice, beet juice, and all other variants.

With these kinds of drinks, you get pure "sugar water" very briefly.

Juices can hardly be called fruit, despite all those praising health claims on the packaging.

Even the healthiest-looking products have the same effect on your blood sugar as a  glass of Coke.

Soft drinks and fruit juice are one-pot wet in terms of influence on the blood sugar level

And believe me when I say that those 0.9 grams of fiber in the smoothie really don't make it any better.

A glass of this drink has the same effect on your blood sugar as a glass of cola. You can easily get 20 grams of sugar. So the drink is really not that harmless.

As a diabetic, you can no longer afford to drink, provided you value your health. 

With diabetes, you should NOT drink ANY fruit juice, fruit drink, or anything in that form.

"But fruit juice is natural, isn't it?"

Many people have the idea that fruit drinks (because they are made of fruit) are healthy. I wish it were like that. However, there is little more natural or pure about it.

When you squeeze the fruit, almost all healthy substances such as fiber, vitamins, and minerals remain in the remaining pulp. 

And that is exactly what usually goes straight into the green container.

Which fruits to avoid with diabetes

Almost all you are left with when you squeeze the fruit yourself is water with fruit sugars and a negligible amount of healthy substances.

Food producers and fruit juice manufacturers go even one step further. They process the juice in such a way that nothing healthy remains.

To make it look somewhat healthy, they add some vitamins.

The multivitamin drink is a good example. They use fruit juice, add a lot of sugars and other flavorings to it. And add some vitamins.

They are only too happy to show that last step on their packaging. In this way, manufacturers can still "convince" many consumers to buy their products. 

Don't be fooled. These fruit juices are true sugar bombs, without the fiber to make them somewhat bearable. Your blood sugar shoots through the roof, even after drinking one glass of fruit juice.

Read this best diet for Type 2 diabetes

#2 Dried fruit 

And what about raisins, cranberries, dried apricots, dates, and goji berries? I can still hear a patient say:

"Dried fruit is only made from fruit. So it's pure fruit. That's healthy, isn't it?!"

I admitted that dried fruit is a bit healthier than fruit juice.

Forbidden fruit for diabetics

Only the juice contains hardly any fiber at all. 

Dried fruit, on the other hand, often still contains fiber. That's beneficial.

Only the (fruit) sugar-fiber ratio usually gets too out of hand, so that you still get far too many sugars.

Your blood sugar level rises quickly and is high when you eat raisins, dates, and other dried fruits. 

Beware

In many cases, dried fruit consists of more than half sugar. Sometimes even for 60% or 70%! The fibers that are in it then have little meaning. 

Such amounts of sugar are dangerous for people with type 2 diabetes. You run the risk of a  hyper.

Can you eat dates/raisins/banana chips if you have diabetes?

Don't be fooled by the beautiful and praising words of the product here either. The words 'Pure', 'Nature' and 'Organic' make many people think that it is good for them.

As you can see, dates are a real sugar bomb. More than 60% of these dates consist of sugar.

Normally I would say that 8 grams of fiber per 100 grams of the product are a nice number. Only there is so much sugar in this product that the strength of the fibers is almost negated.

You should therefore NOT eat dates with type 2 diabetes. Too much sugar and therefore too much influence on your blood sugar level. This also applies to almost all types of dried fruit.

Per 100 grams contain:

Raisins have about 80 grams of carbohydrates, 59 grams of sugar, and 3.5 grams of fiber.

Dried cranberries no less than 82 grams of carbohydrates, 68 grams of sugars, and only 4.5 grams of dietary fiber

Dried mango pieces have 74 grams of carbohydrates/sugars and 9 grams of fiber 

Dried apricots still have 45 grams of carbohydrates, 25 grams of sugars, and 5.7 grams of fiber. That already looks a bit better, but still too unfavorable a ratio.

Organic banana chips  58 grams of carbohydrates, 35 grams of sugar, and 7.7 grams of fiber. They even add extra sugar and honey.

The list goes on for a while. Feel free to take a look around the dried fruit department. I always find it interesting to compare the front of a package with the actual nutritional values ​​and ingredients.

"Now you see you've been tricked more often than you might think." 

This deception may even have contributed to your developing type 2 diabetes.

If you have believed and followed all the health claims and sweet talk of manufacturers for years, it has serious consequences for your health. 

Read this Can Type 2 diabetes be cured

#3 Fruit jam, jam, fruit syrup, and marmalade

When someone tells you that it is healthy to eat strawberry jam or apple syrup when you have diabetes; please walk the other way soon.

These processed fruits generally consist of the following ingredients:

Ground fruit, (cane) sugar, water, citric acid or lemon juice, and a gelling agent.

Forbidden Fruit Diabetes

Even the "less sugary" or "less sweet" varieties are too high in sugars and low in fiber to be considered healthy.

And if fiber is not even mentioned in the nutritional values. If fibers are not listed, it is a sign that they are completely missing from the product.

I don't have to explain to you why this is forbidden fruit in type 2 diabetes.

(Forest) fruit jam

Apple syrup/agave syrup/"fill-in" syrup

  • fruit jam
  • Marmalade
  • fruit spread

And all other (disguised) names for the processed, low-fiber, and sugar-rich fruit.

#4 Fruit bars and fruit bread

These are the last processed fruits that I will cover in this article. The reason I put all processed fruits at the front is simple. 

Processed fruit - in any form - is 9 times out of 10 almost as bad for you as a glass of soda.

And by now you also know that soda is really not acceptable in type 2 diabetes.

Which fruits to avoid in type 2 diabetes mellitus

However, bars are all the rage these days. Easy, fast, and deliciously sweet. In addition, fruit bars are praised as 'healthy'.

After all, it contains fruit. Then it must be healthy, right?

Fruit bars come in different shapes and sizes. 

Some are made from pure fruit and/or coated with chocolate. Other bars are ground fruit in a  flour coating or with muesli. 

Still, others consist mainly of dough with a few small pieces of fruit; like Sultana.

More expensive varieties are often a combination of ground fruit with nuts. Think fig-almond bread or date-walnut bread.

Let's take a look at the nutritional values ​​of a relatively inexpensive fruit bar. The AH Fruit bar apple.

If you think this is healthy, I'm going to disappoint you:

I don't think that needs any explanation.

Unfortunately, the more expensive and even healthier-looking fruit nut bars don't do much better. Just take a look at the nutritional values of the Eat Natural Fruit & Nut Bar. Then I'll stop talking about it

Eat a fruit bar and you're 99.9% sure you're getting a big boost of sugars. Organic or not. Seems healthy or not. From an expensive brand like Nakd or not.

Whatever the food manufacturer or the supermarket itself claims. Fruit bars and fruit bread are among the forbidden fruits for diabetics.

Read This how type 2 diabetes is diagnosed

#5 Ripe bananas

You have arrived at the real fruit. Fruit that has not been processed, but has been transported straight to the supermarkets after harvesting and sorting.

An important question many diabetics ask is:

"Can you eat bananas if you have diabetes?"

The answer to this question is twofold. Because as you read in the article about what foods you can eat before going to sleep, the answer would be 'YES'.

In that article, I recommend a banana as an evening snack. It contains substances that promote good sleep.

And no, I'm not talking about those bananas from Haribo. And also not about a (dark) yellow banana.

I'm talking about unripe, green bananas. 

Fruits for diabetes

They contain a lot of indigestible carbohydrates.

Your body has a hard time processing the sugars from a green banana, which keeps your blood sugar level much more stable.

However, a ripe banana is highly inadvisable in diabetes.

As a banana ripens. change the complex carbohydrates into simple carbohydrates. Unlike complex carbohydrates, these simple carbohydrates are quickly absorbed into your bloodstream.

Beware

As a result, you will have to deal with a blood sugar spike after eating one ripe banana. It is, therefore, better to avoid ripe bananas if you have diabetes.

#6 Ripe mango

What applies to bananas also applies to mangoes. Unripe mango is fine for diabetics!

To check whether a mango is ripe or not, you simply have to take the mango in your hand. Does the mango feel firm? Then you can give it a shot.

In that case, the mango contains more indigestible carbohydrates, which prevents a fast and high blood glucose value.

Is the mango soft? Then you know that it is ripe and that you should avoid this fruit. The riper the mango, the less fiber and the more fast sugars it contains.

#7 Lychee

These small fruits are not yet so popular. You will also rarely find them on the fruit shelves of the supermarket. 

This is better not to eat with type 2 diabetes

Yet I still see them pass by, or someone offers me a handful of lychees.

The problem for people with old age diabetes is that lychee is high in sugar and low in fiber. 

You will easily get 15 to 20 grams of sugar per 100 grams of lychees. 

And only 1 gram of fiber. 

#8 Figs

At least I don't have to talk about the dried version anymore. But fresh figs are also not a wise choice to eat (or use in a dish) if you have type 2 diabetes.

You will easily get 20 grams of sugar per 100 grams of fresh figs. And only 2 grams of fiber. 


#9 Grapes

Red, green, purple, or blue. The different grape varieties all have the same nutritional values.

Per 100 grams you get between 15 and 20 grams of sugar and with a bit of luck 1.5 grams of dietary fiber. It is, therefore, better not to eat grapes if you have diabetes.

Read this How to prevent Gestational diabetes

#10 Cherries

This summer fruit may be nice and sweet. The cherry is so unfavorable in terms of sugar-fiber ratio that it is too risky a fruit for people with type 2 diabetes.

Per 100 grams of cherries, you only get 1.5 to 2 grams of dietary fiber.

You can easily get 12 to 15 grams of sugar. 

That's as much as in Coke.

Forbidden Fruit Diabetes

And of course, I'd much, much rather have you eat a handful of cherries than drink a glass of Coke. Unfortunately, cherries aren't the best idea if you want to keep your glucose and insulin levels stable.

#11 Pineapple

This tropical fruit is praised for its medicinal properties and delicious fresh-sweet taste.

Most people like pineapple very much. And the fruit can be very good for you every now and then if you don't have  (pre)diabetes.

However, if you are a diabetic, pineapple is not a smart choice.

You get a lot of sugar when you eat pineapple. Per 100 grams of pineapple, you get 12 grams of sugar and only  1.5 grams of fiber.

#12 Plums

Prunes, as you now know, are not a good idea to eat in type 2 diabetes.

But what about fresh plums?

Can you eat prunes with diabetes?

It is not for nothing that I only put this fruit at the end of this article.

The plum is a borderline case.  

Per 100 grams of plums, you get about 8 grams of sugars and 1.5 grams of fiber. 

Those are not shocking numbers.

Plums are on the edge. One plum every now and then won't hurt. If you eat more, you may soon be consuming too much sugar; knowing that an average plum weighs about 60 grams.

You want to strongly limit or even avoid the consumption of plums so as not to run any risk.

#13 Watermelon

And this also includes several other melon varieties. 

Watermelon isn't shockingly high in sugar. 

About 8 grams per 100 grams. Only the main problem is that it contains almost no fiber. This causes your blood sugar level to rise abruptly when eating watermelon.

This does not only apply to watermelon, but other melons also have an unfavorable sugar-fiber ratio.

That is why it is better to avoid this fruit if you have diabetes. 

Be sure of your case

When in doubt, always check the nutritional values. Can you see that the fruit is low in sugars and contains enough fiber? Then you can enjoy it just fine.

However, is that not the case or are the nutritional values ​​missing? Then don't take any risks and leave the product behind.

Your health comes first.





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